Filipinos Celebrate Simbang Gabi in Stuttgart

For Filipinos, Christmas will never be complete without the Simbang Gabi. It has been a crucial part in the Christmas tradition of Filipinos in preparation for the birth of Jesus and is thus celebrated the world over. Wherever there are Filipino catholics in whichever part of the world, you can expect to find this tradition celebrated in one or more churches.

The Catholic community here in Stuttgart started the Simbang Gabi eucharistic celebrations last Sunday, 15th December 2019 at 8:00 in the evening at the St. Maria church in Stuttgart-Mitte.

Organized by the PMG (Philippinische Muttersprachliche Gemeinschaft), the eucharistic celebrations are attended by Filipinos and Germans from Stuttgart and its neighboring cities. Even Filipino communities from as far as Frankfurt am Main and Augsburg come to Stuttgart to join in the celebration.

What makes the evening masses a heartwarming experience are the happy smiles of the Filipinos, the Filipino spirit of brother/sisterhood, the Christmas parols (lanterns) that give the church a more Filipino flair and the abundant Filipino finger foods that await each and everyone to share after the mass.

If you happen to be in Stuttgart between today and the 23rd of December, drop by the St. Maria Church at Tübinger Strasse (near Gerber Mall) and experience the Simbang Gabi and celebrate a piece of Filipino Christmas with us.

Note: Photos from Mayette Matzelt, Cherebel Albano,  Rev. Jonathan Ramoso

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The Wilhelma Christmas Garden

Winter is slowly making it's way in this part of the world. Days are getting shorter and shorter, and the wind is chilly and icy. But despite the cold, I always find joy and wonder in this season, for winter is after all "the most wonderful time of the year".

Why? Well, because of this of course:

And these mammut trees that seem to be dancing in a play of lights or these angels, playing the hymns of Christmas:

Or enjoy the lotus pond illuminated with lights:

Should you ever get hungry or want to grab something warm to drink, a small Christmas market is available at your disposal:

Yes, everything lights up, making the sleeping botanical garden alive and awake:

Where is this, you ask? The lighted elephant gives it away.

Yup, you got it right! It is in the Wilhelma Zoo! Visit the Christmas Garden at Wilhelma in Stuttgart between 17.00 - 22.00 PM. They opened the Christmas garden last 14th November 2019 and will be available until the 6th of January 2020.

Don't miss the Christmas Garden at the Wilhelm Zoo in Stuttgart, now on its second year! Tickets are available online at www.christmas-garden.de/stuttgart or at the selling booths outside the main gate.

Photos were taken last year and are the blogger's own.

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What's Happening in October in Stuttgart?

We are already halfway through the month of October, but it still has lots to offer for both young and old. Here are some events and activities that the City of Stuttgart and its neighboring cities has to offer this fall season:

1. Kürbisaustellung (Pumpkin Festival) at Blühendes Barock in Ludwigsburg: 

The annual pumpking festival runs until November 03, 2019. This year's theme: The Fantastic World of Fairytales. If you grew up enjoying the tales of the Grimm Brothers for example, then the giant pumpkin exhibit is a must! Lots of activities are in store for visitors: halloween pumpkin carving, music, story telling, pumpkin gourmet creations, and lots more. Entrance fees: 9,00€ for adults, and 4,50€ for children from 4-15 years old.

Giant pumpkin sculture of Peter Pan and Tinkerbelle. Sculpture by Pit Ruge.
Photo taken from Blühendes Barock website.

2. Culmination of the Remstal Garden Show:

For 164 days the Remstal became a unique experience, opening up new paths, testing new formats and making new encounters possible. With it, the communities and cities around the Remstal became closer more than ever. To culminate, an inter-community closing ceremony will take place in Waiblingen on 20.10.2019. In the evening, Waiblingen lights up, with the city center bathed in a colorful sea of lights. A fireworks display forms the brilliant finale of the event and the Remstal Garden Show 2019.

3. Halloween at the Wilhelma: 

It is Halloween at the Zoo on 31.10.2019! Children and teenagers until 18 years old in costumes have free entrance to the park. Wilhelma transforms into a Halloween town with spooky lights, a dim atmosphere, scary silhouettes and creepy decorations. Special Halloween program from 11:00 - 20:00. 

These are just some of the things that you can do with your family this month of October in Stuttgart. I wish you lots of fun and enjoyment with the whole family! 

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Ramen 8: Japanese Ramen Bar

The days and nights are getting colder, and what better way to ward off the cold than filling your tummies with the hot, savory goodness of Japanese Ramen. It is not easy to find a ramen shop in Stuttgart, especially if you are looking for authentic Japanese ramen. Thankfully, Ramen 8 finally opened its doors in Stuttgart.

S was very happy with her Ramen. Here, she was almost finished with her bowl...
We were too excited to eat we forgot to take a photo of the served ramen! :) 

Located along the Bohnenviertel in Eberhardstrasse, this unassuming ramen shop serves different ramen soup bases served with hand-made wheat noodles, a choice of tenderly cooked, roasted pork (Chasu), chicken fillet, or tempura or just vegetables for the Vegetarians. There are also various side dishes that you can add to your meal like gyoza (dumplings with vegetables), yakitori (chicken barbecue on a stick), tempura (deep-fried shrimps) among others.

They also serve Japanese beer, best paired with edamame (blanched soy beans), as well as genmaicha, which is a green tea preparation with roasted brown rice.

So, if you are in the mood for some Japanese comfort food, head on over to Ramen 8! A plus: the staff always has a smile, makes sure everything is okay, and very nice! 

Location: Eberhardstrasse 47, Stuttgart Mitte

Opening times: Monday to Friday, 11:30 - 15:30 and 17:30 - 22:30 and Saturday, 11:30 - 22:30.

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e-Scooters / e-Rollers in the City

e-Scooters from lime parked near the tram stop in Zuffenhausen-Kelterplatz.

I have been noticing e-Rollers parked just about anywhere around the city. It started I think last month, when the first few of these battery-operated scooters for rent can be spotted in the city center. The e-Scooters or e-Rollers are operated by lime, a US-company.

Could this be the start of the mobility revolution in Stuttgart? These e-scooters are not meant to compete with the public transportation like buses, trams and trains but as a supplement to it. These e-scooters are said to run up to a speed of 20 km/h. Oh my, is that fast!

To protect it from robbers, it has anti-theft features: it alarms so loud like a car alarm system when someone tries to use it by force. The e-scooters can be activated via a smartphone app, where you have to be a registered user to be able to rent, locate available e-scooters and pay.

The e-scooters may be used by anyone aged 14 years old and above. They may only be used on the bike lanes or cycle paths; driving along the Königstrasse is tabu. Helmets are not required when using them but it is recommended for your own safety.

Have you ever tried using an e-scooter? Would you rent an e-Scooter yourself? Let me know how your experience was by leaving your comments below.

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Simbang Gabi in Stuttgart

Christmas is just around the corner. Five more days to be exact. In my home country the Philippines, Christmas has already begun when we entered the "-ber" months. But being away from our home country, we try to make things feel more at home by practicing our Filipino traditions. One thing that we always look forward to is the Simbang Gabi - the nine day mass novena in preparation for the birth of Jesus. In this nine day evening masses, we endure the cold as we warmly await His birth. 

St. Maria Church at night...

We started our Simbang Gabi this year last Saturday, December 15. As accustomed, we celebrated the masses at St. Maria Church, an old church located at the Gerberviertel. We are now on our 6th evening. Three more nights and it will be Christmas Day.

The Parol (Filipino Christmas lantern) adds to the Christmas spirit in the church.

The eucharistic celebrations are prepared and organized by the different Catholic groups comprising the Philippinische Muttersprachliche Gemeinschaft, making sure that on each evening, there is music, smooth flow and warm Filipino finger foods and kakanin. 

I pray that despite the cold, we will all remain healthy and keep coming with our warm spirits so that our "pakiusap" to Him after completing the nine evening masses will be answered and granted.

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Golden October - Autumn Is Here!

With October comes the fresh, crisp, chilly breeze of Autumn. Trees begin to tranform in color in wonderful hues of yellows, oranges and golds, very apt for the Germans term "goldener Oktober".

In October, we still get to enjoy some sunny weather, perfect to enjoy the colors of the autumn season outdoors. So while the weather is still nice, a day out with the family is definitely a must! So grab those hiking boots and walking sticks, warm drinks and happy spirits and enjoy the golden landscape.

Because when November comes, the cold winds will blow the golden colors away, bringing with it rain and dark skies, making way for the winter that is to come.

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Burger Restaurants in Stuttgart

Looking for a good hamburger place in Stuttgart? Nope, I'm not talking about the greasy fastfood hamburgers from McDonald's or Burger King but hamburgers with 100% real beef meat and served with fresh salads. There are a number of places to go. Here are the three on my list:

Hans im Glück's whole grain bun burger with salad on the side. Just yum!

1. "Hans im Glück": The concept of this burgergrill is that of Hans' from the fairytale of the same title. "As happy as me, there is no one else under the sun!" These words are spoken by Hans after he has traded on his way one by one the valuable against the worthless. For him, happiness is something other than possession, what matters most is the MOMENT. This lightness of being, free from every burden, is the basic idea of the HANS Im GLUECK burger grills. Here guests will be given special moments of happiness. What I like about this burger grill is that you can choose the type of bread and the sauce on your burger. They also have burger menus for vegetarians. There are 4 locations in Stuttgart: in Europaviertel along Lissabonner Strasse, in Caleido along Tübinger Strasse (near Gerber), in Milaneo at Mailänder Platz, and in Marienstrasse.

2. Flo Steak & Burger: This burger and steak restaurant in the heart of Stuttgart opened not so long ago - on the 24th of April to be exact. As the name implies, they have steaks and burgers on the menu. Haven't tried the steaks yet but I heard from friends that they are great! Their burger patty is juicy and not dry. There are also many variants to choose from like salmon fish burger and vegetarian burger, Every now and then they have their burger specials. I also enjoyed their sweet potato fries and their own concoction of passion fruit juice! They are also now open from 11:03 AM on Sundays! Hurray for that! Flo is located in Bolzstrasse 10, on the corner of Lautenschlagerstrasse.

3. Triple B (Beef Burger Brothers): This is a small burger shop in the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen area. Read so many praises and good reviews about this shop. Everything is made fresh in the house, from the burger patty down to the bun. They use only 100% regional beef meat and claims that the meat is never frozen. I've been passing by this store each time I have some business at the Rathaus but never really got the chance to stop by to eat. One day I will come invade you! :) Triple B is located at Bottwarstrasse 1 (near Zuffenhausen Rathaus). More convenient to come by train on the U15 Zuffenhausen-Rathaus stop as parking can be difficult. The shop is closed on Mondays.

So there's the 3 burger grills/restaurants to watch out for when you are in Stuttgart and are in the mood for some beef goodness. 

Do you know any other Burger stores in the area? If so, I will be glad to learn about it. Just leave a comment. Thanks!

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An Autumn Musing

The cold days are now slowly creeping in. I can still recall the not so distant days when the vineyards look so full and lush, with the Lembergers and Trollingers heavy with fruits, ready for the harvest season. 

Lembergers in all its glorious, ripe beauty.
Taken at the Weinberge Am Schnarrenberg in Stuttgart.

The autumn season has many a meanings for me. It marks the end of summer, yes. But it means a bountiful harvest, and of preparing for the new life that spring brings. It allows us to slowly get used to the mild, chilly and sometimes wintry breeze. 

As the leaves turn from green to hundreds of different hues of yellows,  oranges, and reds and then finally to brown, it brings in an air of sadness. And yet you smile because despite this oh so natural phenomenon, innocent children shriek with laughter at the sight of piles of fallen leaves and at the crunchy sound of the leaves crushing beneath their covered feet.   

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Goodbye Hugendubel Stuttgart

I have seen some small shops and even big department store chains along the Königstrasse closing down because of low profit and clientele but I never thought I would see the day when one of my favorite book stores, which is really a haven for book lovers out there, would also close its doors. Whether you fancy reading a book and decide to buy one, grab a cup of coffee in their cafe, look for some gift ideas or just relax and window shop, this is one of the places to be.

My little girl trying to look what's still inside the bookstore
through a small gap between the glass doors.
She was of course sad when she heard the news.

HUGENDUBEL. If you have never been to this book haven before, then it is too late. Their branch along Königstrasse (beside Müller) closed last April 4th 2015. There are still other branches all over Germany though and you can still purchase books from their online shop at Hugendubel.de.

Interior of the bookstore on the 2nd floor. These comfy lounges are so relaxing.
Photo © Pagolux Interieur

There's even a play area in the children's section of the bookstore where
children can play while their mommies browse through children's books.
Photo © Pagolux Interieur.

The bookstore front along Königstrasse taken a year and a half ago (October 2013).

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Flammende Sterne 2012

Me, my hubby and my little girl just love fireworks. Since we moved here, we make it a point that we get to watch at least one fireworks show every year. I guess my love for fireworks shows began when I went to Japan and witnessed the Hanabi festival for the first time. I've been fascinated by it since then.

Flammende Sterne 2011: Chinese musical fireworks show

One of our favorites is the Flammende Sterne, which is a three-day event and showcases musical fireworks from three different countries. This year's Flammende Sterne will be take place on Friday until Sunday, August 17-19, still at the Scharnhauser Park in Ostfildern. Since it is on it's 10th year, I am sure it will be another special and spectacular fireworks show. Three countries who will compete will be England (Friday), Spain (Saturday) and Germany (Sunday). The musical fireworks itself lasts only for about 30 minutes but the program starts at 6:00PM, with a "flamy" birthday show, live music and food. 

We do not really go inside the event area since we are there just for the fireworks. What we do is find a spot outside the event area where we have a good view of the sky. A good spot is the parking lot near the park. Then we just bring pizza and drinks and some picnic blankets so we can relax and won't go hungry while waiting for the fireworks to start. I didn't get good photos last year since I didn't know how to set up my camera but I hope I will be able to take some good ones this year. If you know what settings are best for a Nikon D5000 when taking fireworks shots, could you kindly leave me a comment? I highly appreciate it!

And oh, to get to the Flammende Sterne, just take the U7 line from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof going to Ostfildern and get off at any of the three stops: "Kreuzbrunnen",  "Scharnhauser Park" or "Parksiedlung". Hope you find yourself a good spot! Enjoy this year's Flammende Sterne. I am so looking forward to it!

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The Cupcake Boutique

I have read some months ago on some of my friends' Facebook statuses about The Cupcake Boutique. They are all praises and quite excited to share about this cupcake shop and I too was curious about it. Since I was busy with my Master thesis, I never really found the time to visit it with my family or friends until one day when I had to bring my daughter to the dentist for a dental check-up. We only chanced to pass by after my daughter's appointment and was really enticed by the front of the shop. It was so inviting and since it was a quiet afternoon, I decided to stop by for coffee and have a taste of their cupcakes. It was also some sort of reward to my daughter for being so brave at the dentist, she didn't even show any sign of being afraid.

I find the interior design very chic, charming and at the same time relaxing, with the main color in pink. I love how the cupcakes are arranged to form flowers on the walls. It may be a bit too feminine but I guess that is the target market - girls and women. It is a haven for those seeking refuge after a stressful day at work or on those lazy afternoons when you have nothing else to do but read a book or on days when you are craving for something sweet and chocolatey.

We both ordered chocolate cupcakes. Mine is the one with the chocolate and cherry, their version of the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (black forest cake). My daughter had the chocolate candy on top (I forgot what it was called). The chocolate cupcake was delicious, soft and moist, which reminded me of my mom's chocolate moist cake. I thought that there was too much cream topping though, which my daughter didn't like so I ended up eating half of her cupcake. 

It was a good experience for me and my little girl, we sort of had a little mother-daughter bonding. Now I know a place where I can meet up with my girlfriends for some coffee, good cake and a long chitchat. :)

Visit The Cupcake Boutique at Hirschstrasse 16, 70173 Stuttgart. You can find more information at their website at www.thecupcakeboutique.com.

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Filipino Summer Party in Stuttgart 2012

The Filipino community of Stuttgart had the annual summer party yesterday, in what seemed like the hottest day of the summer at 34°C. It started at 3:00PM with the Friday Novena in honor of Sto. Nino de Cebu and followed by a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. 

Photo by © Heinz Matzelt via Facebook

Then dinner was served for everyone, thanks to the catering services and all those who brought and shared food. We didn't have any problems with catering supplies at all since we decided to use disposable plates, plastic cutlery and paper cups. Food was superb and there was more than enough for everyone.

Photo by © Fryne Noel via Facebook

Then it was time to burn out the calories and heat up the dance floor. Even though it was very hot inside the venue, the heat wasn't able to stop us from partying all night long, thanks to the cool and upbeat music provided by our fellow Filipinos. There was even a special performance of Filipino folk dances.

It was a nice evening spent with fellow Filipinos. Until next summer everyone!

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